FAQs
When did the Trust go smoke free for patients and visitors as
well as staff?
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
went completely smoke-free on 1 January 2019. You are not allowed
to smoke or use e-cigarettes on any Trust property, including
inside areas of the Trust boundaries (signified by a white line on
the ground). E-cigarettes are also not permitted anywhere on the
Trust premises.
Why did the Trust make this change?
We know that smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable
ill health. Since July 2007 smoking has not been permitted inside
any of our buildings, to protect the health of all people using our
hospitals and grounds.
We want everyone who uses our services to be safe and to see our
hospital Trust as a place that promotes good health and wellbeing.
To help achieve this we made all our premises smoke-free, so that
none of our patients, visitors and staff are exposed to the harmful
effects of cigarette smoke..
How will patients and visitors know that UH Bristol's premises
are smoke free?
There are clear signs at main entrances and around Trust
premises, including painted no smoking logos on the grounds near
our entrances.
Will patients, visitors and staff be able to get support when
on site?
If you are a smoker then we are here to help.
If you are a patient staying at one of our hospitals you
will be asked if you smoke upon admission and you will be
offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), if it is suitable for
you. There are many types of NRT available (such as patches,
lozenges and mouth sprays) and we will help you to find the one
that works for you. You can find out more by visiting
the Bristol Smokefree website.
Giving up smoking is a personal choice, but is the most
important thing you can do for your health and those around you. We
will respect your decision and support you to give up if you choose
to. We can also provide medication to help control your withdrawal
symptoms during your stay.
If you are having a planned admission to our hospitals, the best
thing you can do is contact your local stop smoking service (call
0300 123 1044 to find details of your local service) or your GP and
ask for NRT to take into hospital with you. That way you can start
using NRT before you arrive.
If you have an unplanned admission, you can ask any nurse or
doctor to give you NRT to help with your nicotine withdrawal
symptoms. If you are a visitor, we ask that you do not smoke
anywhere on our premises during your visit.
Further information
Who has responsibility for patients who choose to go off site
to smoke?
The Trust is not liable for patients or visitors who choose to
go off site to smoke. We will always offer support to abstain or
quit whilst in our care and prescribe nicotine replacement therapy
when required.
How will the medication patients are using be affected if they
stop smoking?
Clinical staff supporting patients will be able to make the
appropriate adjustments to ensure that patients get the full
benefits of their usual medication as well as nicotine replacement
therapy.
Will there be an identified place on any of our sites for
smokers?
No. The new policy is for all of our premises to be smoke
free. There will be support to abstain from smoking through
the use of nicotine replacement therapy whilst accessing our
services or to quit if that is the preference.
Will any exceptions be made to the policy?
No. The policy applies to patients, visitors and staff on
all Trust premises. Staff will support you to not smoke whilst on
our premises. Reasonable adjustments may be made in exceptional
circumstances (for example for a patient with whom the withdrawal
of smoking is detrimental to their physical wellbeing and who
cannot have nicotine replacement therapy for a medical reason).
Will e-cigarettes be allowed as part of the support to abstain
from smoking on site?
No. The Trust has taken the decision to not include e-cigarettes
as part of our approach to support abstaining. The decision
has been taken as there is currently insufficient evidence about
their impact on health or risks associated with their usage.
